The twelfth episode of Viral Hit marked the end of the first season and aired on June 27 in Japan. The finale delivered an abundance of surprises, plot twists, and a sense of boundless happiness, providing a satisfying conclusion to a season filled with tension and suspicion. It is truly uplifting to see the characters, especially Hobin and his team, find solace and closure after the challenges they faced throughout the season.
Hobin Yu has made immense progress in his fighting skills, starting from his struggles against Pakgo and Taehun to now facing off against the formidable Mangi Hwang. In just one season, he has gone from barely being able to defeat Snapper to being on par with experienced fighters. The growth of all the main characters in this season is truly remarkable, although it may be overshadowed by the challenges that lie ahead.
New Episode: Joy to the World
Hobin’s initial failures against Hwang
In episode 12 of the viral sensation, viewers witness the intense battle between Hwang and Hobin. As predicted in episode 11, this is the most perilous situation Hobin has encountered, with the exception of his fight against Taehun. Similar to all of his previous opponents, Hwang has a considerable advantage in both height and weight over Hobin.
This renders any considerable impact Hobin could have had ineffective. His calf kicks lack power, his overhand hooks are ineffectual, and his attempt at a baseball choke fails due to Hwang’s shorter clothing and Hobin’s inability to lift or secure his arms around him effortlessly.
Despite his size, Hwang possesses great speed and running away is not a viable option. Gaeul and Samdak, who are familiar with Korean Ssireum wrestlers like Hwang, have mentioned that they train by running 30km every day through the sand at full speed. Hobin is eventually forced to rely solely on the teachings of Taehun, which only manages to prolong his survival by a few seconds.
Meanwhile, Hwang’s strength allows him to effortlessly slam Hobin onto the asphalt and leave him gasping for air. Fortunately, Hobin’s back remains intact thanks to the use of a spinal tool. As Hwang revealed in Episode 11, he finds it simple to toss Hobin around due to his soft and pliable nature, comparing him to cotton candy. The latest Viral Hit episode, number 12, showcases Hwang’s incredible power, causing Hobin to regret his initial eagerness to engage in a fight and prompting him to reevaluate his life decisions.
Taehun’s Training and Backstory
One of the major revelations in episode 12 of Viral Hit is the backstory of Taehun and his role in Hobin’s training. In the previous episode, Hobin’s admiration for Taekwondo convinced the sadistic martial artist to take him on as a trainee. The explanation for this decision is uncovered in Taehun’s past.
Taehun, a Taekwondo champion, arrived at his dojo only to discover that it had been transformed into a mathematics tutoring center for children. This news left him feeling deeply upset, despite his sensei’s attempts to justify the change by claiming that Taekwondo is no longer popular compared to MMA and that the dojo was losing profits. Undeterred, Taehun boldly stated that he could defeat MMA fighters and firmly believed that Taekwondo remained the greatest and most powerful martial art.
Taehun, who had been defeated by Hobin, was now training him in the present day. He demonstrated effective ways to run backward and taught him his signature back-kick. Taehun also showed Hobin how to aim the kick, which ultimately saved his life. Despite Taehun’s unusually kind behavior during training, Hobin couldn’t shake the feeling that he had an ulterior motive. However, Taehun’s true sadistic nature never revealed itself, ultimately saving Hobin’s life.
Hobin’s kick to Hwang’s groin, intended to create distance and strike his solar plexus, instead halted Hwang’s advance and provoked him into attempting a reckless suplex onto the pavement.
Hwang’s True Self
As Hobin’s defeat seemed imminent, he resorted to one final desperate move. He seized onto whatever part of Hwang he could reach, which turned out to be his hair. The livestream of Viral Hit, with its impressive viewership of over 30k, fell silent as it was revealed that Hwang was wearing a wig to conceal a receding hairline or possible baldness.
Upon confiding in Snapper and Hobin, it became apparent that Hwang had always been anxious about speaking to women because of his size. He had become a wrestler in hopes of gaining recognition and finding a girlfriend. However, his weight class prevented him from achieving recognition, leading him to seek advice from pick-up artists’ books. In episode 11, he attempted to assist Bomi but was unaware of how his actions came across as creepy.
Despite Hwang’s initial decision to leave the NewTuber community, Hobin and Snapper were able to show him that he was not alone in his struggles. Through their recorded conversation, Hwang not only gained a significant amount of subscribers for his channel, but also received an outpouring of support. This was a stark contrast to how Hwang was initially perceived when he first appeared in episode 9.
The livestream of Viral Hit comes to an end after the intense fight, with almost every character seen in the series tuning in to watch. From Bomi and Kim to Taehun and Pakgo, everyone is now engrossed in the video. This is a significant change from where Hobin began at the beginning of the series, and with the assistance of Snapper and Gaeul, things have only improved.
A joyous victory and life
Despite a difficult start in episode 1 where he was a victim of constant bullying and struggled to make ends meet for himself and his mother, Hobin’s life has drastically improved in Viral Hit episode 12. He now has a strong support system of friends, a mentor, a girlfriend, and a stable source of income which has allowed him to live a fulfilling life and provide for his family.
The conclusion of the twelfth episode of Viral Hit highlights the happiness experienced by the entire group. Bomi can now feel at ease knowing that she is no longer being stalked, while Kim and Taehun take pride in Hobin’s accomplishments. Snapper, who has benefited financially from the project, dreams of becoming a film director. Additionally, Gaeul is no longer an outsider and feels included in the group.
Despite the daunting cost of 2 million yen (or USD 12,449.46), Hobin is filled with joy at the hospital when he learns that his mother has been placed on the fast-track for lifesaving surgery. With Gaeul and Snapper by his side, he feels an overwhelming sense of happiness, as if it’s the happiest he’s ever been. He enthusiastically declares that he will find a way to cover the expenses.
As he watches the post-credits scene, he may want to savor the current state of things, as it reveals a dreaded issue for all content creators. Those who rely on their streaming or video content as a source of income always have the fear of demonetization looming over them. The outcome of this threat will have to wait until the second season.
Final Thoughts: Summary of the First Season
Despite not receiving as much attention as popular titles such as Kaiju No. 8 or Wind Breaker, Viral Hit has proven to be a hidden gem of the spring 2024 anime season. Its lack of flashiness and fantasy sets it apart from other chart-topping shows, and this uniqueness is what makes it truly special. Every anime should offer something different and bring something new to the table.
As Viral Hit episode 12 marks the conclusion of the first season, it is the perfect opportunity to start reading the manhwa. The anime covers up to chapter 26 of the manhwa, which is available to read for free on Webtoon. Fans highly recommend starting from this point, as it is where the story begins.
In terms of the anime, it effectively showcases the world of content creation, combat, and the importance of proper training when utilizing legitimate techniques. The series consistently highlights both the positive and negative aspects of content creation and fighting, but ultimately places emphasis on the character development of the main characters.
The morals conveyed include avoiding conflict, using intelligence in battles, and refraining from acts of greed or causing harm for personal gain. The importance of the general “anti-bullying”moral is also highlighted. There are many more exciting events to be discovered in the adventures of Hobin and Viral Hit, making a second season a great opportunity to showcase them.
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